string choice for short scale

doubletea · #1 09-22-2009, 08:24 PM

Hi! I wish I'd found this forum earlier - as I work my way through different types of bass guitars . . . . .
Anyway, I'm relatively new to the bass guitar, and have recently discovered that I much prefer the short scale (30 inch) bass because of my short fingers. I bought a Dean EVO XM Bass, and I enjoy the change a lot. However, from reading reviews on other sites it seems that inexpensive bass guitars come with "cheap" strings and I should consider changing them out for better tone.
My bass is properly adjusted, according to my bass instructor, and I enjoy the relatively low action on it. Another issue for me is that my fingers seemed to "stick" to roundwound strings during an outdoor concert in the hot humidity of August in N.C. I wonder if flatwounds or coated strings would help me with that issue. The Dean EVO XM has "guitar" type tuners and so it seems I must have short scale type strings in order to wrap around the tuners.

Is it true that heavier strings improve tone and reduce buzzing on short scales, especially on the E string? Do some brands of strings have higher tension that would reduce buzzing? I only have a little bit of this trouble, when I hammer on, but I would prefer no trouble at all - VBG.

The style of music which I play is sort of a soft rock for a praise band at church. I don't play many solos, just sort of fill.

MIJ-VI · #2 09-25-2009, 01:12 AM

Perhaps your bass instructor could recommend a set to try since he or she can play your bass to form an evaluation?

fretlessguy · #3 09-25-2009, 11:08 PM

Some folks really play heavier gauges for short scales, such as .50-.105. This is to get rid of the "flopiness" or lower tension as well as the factors you mentioned. As for me, I prefer .40-.95 or .45-.100 gauges. A little less tension is okay by me. If the bass is properly set up with the strings you have, you might have some buzz when playing, but nothing that would out of the ordinary.
My Epiphone Allan Woody has a set of SIT short scale nickel rounds (.40-.95) and I have not had any problems thus far. My SX Jazz fretless shortscale has D'Addario Half Rounds in .45-.100, which are surprisingly good considering I wasn't crazy about their long scale ones.

doubletea · #4 09-27-2009, 05:12 PM

Thanks for the input! My bass instructor tells me that string choice is highly subjective . . . .and recommended just trying some out. Since strings are relatively expensive for a bass, I thought I'd ask around some more. I found a cure for my fingers sticking to the strings - $5 worth of string lubricant. That bottle will probably last a lifetime!